Ji Xiaosong lowered her gaze to hide her smile and turned toward the kitchen. "You can stay, but first, go prune the wisteria outside the courtyard."
Dai Lixing immediately rose to his feet, but he staggered, having knelt for too long.
He watched Ji Xiaosong's back disappear behind the wooden door. Looking down, he realized his palms were slick with sweat. Not even the military's most classified documents had ever made him this nervous.
The evening breeze, laden with the aroma of braised pork, wafted across the courtyard. Dai Lixing took a deep breath and suddenly felt as if every speck of dust on this unnamed planet was whispering of destiny.
Dai Lixing went outside the courtyard and looked at the overgrown wisteria.
Its vines sprawled wantonly, some already twining around the adjacent wooden fence.
He reached out and grasped a thick wisteria vine. It was rough to the touch, bearing the marks of time.
He picked up the pruning shears and carefully began to trim the vines.
